Since I was writing about some of the challenges to this approach in my last post, I thought I'd write about some of the potential advantages that have been occurring to me over dinner. Here are some things that such an organisation *could* do (probably not all of them, this is just brainstorming):
1. Provide a shared experience to clients regarding workflow process, particularly with regard to project management, communication and issue logging tools. Ie, if all the developers in the group agree to use the same tools, it's easier for the client to understand how to integrate a second developer, switch developers, etc. 2. Provide a single point of entry to clients for workflow tools. Not only is the process between developers the same, but the client doesn't need to change accounts, etc. Adding issues against a given project automatically brings it to the attention of the right developer. 3. Provide some volume discounts to developers for using some development tools. 4. Provide a backup person for all client/developer relationships (I mentioned this already). Every developer would be another developer's backup. Your backup can call you at home in the middle of the night if you aren't responding to the client. 5. Possibly provide support contracts from the collective, not an individual developer. 6. Run an internal code review process, review each other's code via github. 7. Build a shared name in relation to commits to some key open source projects. A shared policy of spending time in certain projects (presumably related to business goals) could help the group get know for being experts in those projects (which the group would actually become of course). 8. Provide consistant and understandable rates (beware of price fixing laws). 9. Aggregated blogging I'm sure there's more. Craig -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby or Rails Oceania" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rails-oceania?hl=en.
